Chapter 21

Lucas and Gustave approached the desk where the police officer sat writing something down. Looking up, he greeted them.

"Good evening, gentlemen. How may I help you?

Lucas pulled out his identity documents and handed it over to a police officer.

" Good evening. Governor Lucas Bouchard. This is my cousin Gustave Pepin. We are here to see Chief Michael Jonhson", Lucas said sternly.

"Do you have an appointment?", asked police officer.

Lucas' face darkened.

"He knows I'm coming to see him. Just tell him we are here", Lucas said.

"I'm sorry, Governor Bouchard. Chief Johnson went to deal with an urgent case that just came in", replied police officer.

"Ah. So he went to do it", Lucas nodded "Good. We'll wait."

He turned to Gustave and cousins went to sit down. Gustave did, but just as he reached the chair Lucas heard the doors opening.

Looking up, he saw two police officers bringing in the young man. An older man followed them.

The younger man tried to free himself.

"Let go of me! This is outrageous!", he yelled.

An older policeman slightly pushed him to move forward.

"Get in there", he pushed him toward the questioning room.

"My Father will hear of this! You won't get away with this", as those words left young man's mouth Lucas was one hundred percent sure who was standing in front of him.

He didn't waste a second - approaching them, he spoke to an older policeman.

"Chief Johnson?"

Johnson looked up and recognized a young man in front of him.

"Governor", he nodded.

"I want to question him too", Lucas said seriously.

"What?! Who the hell are you?!", yelled Patrick.

Nobody answered him. Johnson pushed Patrick inside the questioning room and closed the doors.

"Sit down", Johnson pushed Patrick on the chair.

Lucas wanted to sit with them, but Gustave held him back.

"Let them do their job, mon frère. Stay here and listen", Gustave said silently and Lucas took a deep breath to calm down. He stayed put, leaning his back on the wall, feeling Gustave's fingers holding his forearm.

To prevent any stupid move that would get him in trouble.

Back at the table Johnson started to question Patrick.

"Are you married, Mr. Matthews?

"Yes, I am", Patrick huffed "What does that have to do…", he started, but Johnson didn't let him finish.

"And what does your wife think of you chasing after the other woman?", spat Johnson.

Patrick gasped.

"What?!", he exclaimed.

"Mr. Matthews, you are arrested on charges of harassment and attempt of sexual assault. Are you telling me that you…", Johnson couldn't even finish his question when Patrick yelled:

"It's a lie! All she says is a lie!"

"Touché", Gustave whispered darkly.

Patrick snapped his mouth shut realizing that he just admitted that he was guilty of what they were charging him of.

"She?", Johnson raised her eyebrows "Who is she?"

Patrick pressed his lips tightly together and shook his head.

"Mr. Matthews…", Johnson started, but Patrick interrupted him:

"I wanna call my Father. I have a right to place one call", he gulped.

"Mr. Matthews, answer the question", Johnson warned him "Who. Is. She?"

Patrick felt trapped. Looking down at his hands on the table, he grumbled.

"Nobody. She is nobody important. A prostitute actually. You don't expect me to marry a prostitute after I had my way with her", he laughed "Be reasonable, officer. That kind of woman is good for nothing."

Everything happened fast - Gustave watched in horror as Lucas launched forward, grabbing Patrick by a collar, his face darkening.

"TAKE THOSE LIES BACK THIS INSTANT OR I WILL MAKE YOU FEEL SORRY YOU WERE BORN!!", Lucas growled.

Patrick raised his eyebrows with an evil smirk.

"Ah, so you know our Gracie? And you want that purity for yourself?", his smirk grew "Not before me. I will get to her first."

The moment those words left him Lucas' mind blackened and he grabbed Patrick's neck, pressing his fingers in it causing the awful man to slightly choke, fighting for breath.

"LUCAS!", Gustave ran toward him and he and Johnson grabbed him, trying to pull him away from Patrick.

"GOVERNOR! LET HIM GO!", Johnson yelled, trying to pry Lucas' hands away from Patrick's neck.

Lucas didn't hear anything. With a murderous glare he growled:

"If you ever lay a finger on her, I will find you and I will kill you. You understand?!", he pushed Patrick away, breathing heavily.

Gustave pulled him away with Johnson following.

Patrick rubbed reddened skin on his neck, mumbling silently to himself:

"Governor…", his stare was fixed on Lucas, his mind speeding up.

Johnson was furious.

"Governor, what the hell do you think you"re doing?! Do you want to end up behind the bars for almost killing him?!", barked Johnson.

Lucas straightened his coat.

"I'm sorry. I lost it. It won't happen again", Lucas mumbled, taking a few deep breaths in to calm down.

"Damn right it won't!", warned Johnson "Now, you are gonna wait outside until I'm done here. And then you will give a statement, telling me everything you know about this case".

Lucas nodded quickly.

"I want you to get a restraining order", said Lucas.

"Wait. Outside", warned Johnson.

Gustave knew it was his cue. He pulled Lucas by his forearm and they went outside. —-- Lillian tucked the last kids in and slightly opened the doors of Grace's bedroom.

A small smile graced her face as she saw her beloved sister sleeping peacefully.

Lillian closed the doors and tiptoed down the stairs. Her heart felt lighter. She knew that telling Lucas was the right thing to do. Grace was way calmer after their talk. After she told her all about their talk Lillian felt peace coming into her soul after such a long time.

Lillian knew that Lucas will protect Grace. She could see it in his eyes. If he manages to get that bastard arrested then her little sister may try to start to recover from the horrible hurt and betrayal Patrick put her through.

Lillian reached the last stair and startled a bit as she heard a silent knock at the doors.

Glancing at the clock on the wall she swallowed hard.

21.35.

Who would be out there at this hour?

"Lillian? Grace? It's me, open up", Lucas' calm voice was heard.

Lillian rushed toward the doors and unlocked them to see Lucas standing in the rain.

"Lucas, you're soaked! Come in, come in", she opened the doors to let him in.

"Thank you", said Lucas "I won't be long, Gustave is waiting for me in the car", he looked around "Is she asleep?"

Lillian nodded.

"Yes. She fell asleep about an hour ago. I can get her if you need to talk to her", Lillian offered.

"No, no, let her sleep. She needs to rest. I can give it to you as well", Lucas said, reaching for a paper in his suit pocket and handing it over to Lillian.

Creasing her eyebrows a bit in curiosity Lillian accepted a paper and opened it.

A silent, shivering gasp escaped her as she read what was on it.

"Restraining order", she whispered.

Lucas nodded.

"If he tries to approach her he will be arrested. She will have to go to the police station and give a statement. He is in jail for now, but I am not stopping at this. Something about his family doesn't sound right", he seriously said and then asked "Do you know what kind of business his Father is into?"

Lillian blinked her tears away.

"Uhmm…he used to work for the North West Mining Company, but now he is into banking", she watched in confusion as Lucas inhaled deeply, his eyes getting a distant far away look "Lucas?"

He blinked and looked back at her, his lips slowly curling up in a smile.

"I know just who to ask about Patrick's Father", he said.

Things were starting to fall into their right place.

Lillian swallowed hard, tears escaping her eyes. She quickly wiped them.

"I will never be able to thank you for everything you did, Lucas", she whispered.

Lucas softly smiled.

"No need to thank me. I am glad I could help. Thank you for talking her into telling me about it. I promise you, Lillian, she will be safe. Don't be afraid. And whatever you need I am only a phone call away. Alright?"

Lillian nodded, completely speechless.

Glancing at the clock, Lucas said:

"Speaking of a phone call, I should get home and make that one before it's too late. I want to have information before Grace goes to the Police station in the morning", he nodded "Good night, Lillian".

"Good night, Lucas. And thank you so much", Lillian said, her voice filled with relief and gratitude. —-- Lucas put on a lamp in his office and reached for the phone. He knew he had a few minutes left before Florence or Fiona leave the phone centrale for the night.

He hoped he wasn't too late.

A relieved breath escaped him as Florence's voice was heard. He asked her to place the call and waited patiently until he heard his friend's voice saying grumpy "hello" on the other side of the phone line.

"Henry? It's Lucas. I'm sorry if I woke you up, but I need your help. It's urgent."